One day I came to know Dr. John Douglas Adam," wrote Charles Gallaudet Trumbull. “I learned he considered his greatest spiritual asset to be his unwavering awareness of the actual presence of Jesus. Nothing sustained him as much, he said, as the realization that Jesus was always actually present with him. This realization was totally independent of his own feelings, his worthiness, and his perceptions as to how Jesus would demonstrate His presence.

Furthermore, he said Christ was the center of his thoughts. Whenever his mind was free from other matters, it would turn to Christ. Whenever he was alone, and no matter where he was, he would talk aloud to Christ as easily and as naturally as to any human friend. That is how very real Jesus' actual presence was to him.

From Streams in the Desert: January 17, 2024

Steams in the Desert by L.B. Cowman

Personal Thoughts and Reflections

In our family my wife and I play different roles in the lives of our children. One of the three of our children, who turns five in April, is more apt to test his boundaries with my wife than with me. Some times he will test those boundaries with out knowing that I am watching him. Once I make my presence known you can see the look of regret come over his face. Our son knows dad means business. He also knows that I love him very much. His reaction to me is less about my response to his behavior and more about his response to the assigned role that he has given me as “father”.

With God, he’s not peeking around a corner to make sure that we are being kind to our mom, brothers, and sisters. He doesn’t come home from work early and surprise us. He is always with us and never leaves us. To have “unwavering awareness of the actual presence of Jesus” only brings comfort rather than fear when we know the Father’s heart. In almost every scenario my son finds comfort and peace in knowing that dad is around. We can find comfort and peace in knowing that our heavenly dad is always around.

What perspective, role, or characteristics have you assigned to God? It’s far more likely that those have been heavily influenced by external circumstances or let down expectations which are not based on the true character of God. What if you were to truly know God, and then know that He is always present. Just imagine the peace, safety, and comfort, even when we are caught in an act that we know we shouldn’t do.

Over time our son has learned that even in times of trouble and discipline there are always hugs and a conversation that reassures how much we love him as we guide him in becoming a young man of integrity.

1 John 3:1 AMP See what an incredible quality of love the Father has shown to us, that we would [be permitted to] be named and called and counted the children of God! And so we are! For this reason the world does not know us, because it did not know Him.